Any retirees teach personal finance in a HS or college???

[BeachPerson]

Any Bogleheads teach personal finance in a HS or a community college? Now retired, something I would like to do.

[Colorado14]

Yes I did, when I was an employee of a university.

Do you have credentials that would make you a viable candidate? Do you have teaching experience? At the college level, both of these factors are likely to be relevant.

[BeachPerson]

No teaching experience. A BS from Towson University and a MS from Johns Hopkins. Both degrees in Computer Science.

[sailaway]

No teaching experience. A BS from Towson University and a MS from Johns Hopkins. Both degrees in Computer Science.

Some community colleges have continuing ed, non credit classes. In some cases, it is fairly easy to set up a class, and you only get paid by the number of registrants.

[stan1]

A local middle school or high school might be interested in a volunteer, but you may find they are more interested in any technical skills you have with computers rather than personal finance.

In most places I'm aware of a position at a community college would be part time paid, and you might have to wait for someone to stop teaching or pass away. Pay is likely very minimal.

Know your audience, so they are going to be using Cash App, TikTok, etc. Debt, college/military/trade school, and paying for college important, saving for retirement in retirement accounts and three fund portfolios maybe less urgent for most of them unless you are in a 1%er zip code.

[angelescrest]

Maybe you can start a local finance club, unless you want to pursue the long road to teaching credentials. Accreditors have standards. A club would have more freedom and flexibility. Managing HS and college students is no joke.

[Stinky]

Any Bogleheads teach personal finance in a HS or a community college? Now retired, something I would like to do.

Consider spending more time on the Forum, and weighing in on threads like “look at my portfolio”.

Contributing to the Forum can be an immensely rewarding activity. Ask me how I know…..

[Watty]

Any Bogleheads teach personal finance in a HS or a community college? Now retired, something I would like to do.

You should look to see if their is a Junior Achievement program in your area that you can volunteer with.

https://jausa.ja.org/about/index

[Colorado14]

I second the recommendation to consider possible teaching opportunities in computer science via community/adult education. Or consider doing volunteer teaching at a senior center or local library. Your tech skills can likely be put to good use at both venues.

Your degrees ate impressive, yet they won't be considered relevant to teaching finance at the college level.

[quantAndHold]

When I was 30, I took a continuing ed class like that. It was taught by a CFP with 20 years experience as a fee only financial planner.

[MathWizard]

I taught personal finance to my kids.
I don't think HS students would listen to me.

[doobiedoo]

Any Bogleheads teach personal finance in a HS or a community college? Now retired, something I would like to do.

Not exactly.
I teach a class on Warren Buffet's Investment Methodology at CSUF OLLI. [I don't get paid for this.] Here's the link.
https://olli.fullerton.edu/classes/econ ... odolgy.php

[tibbitts]

No teaching experience. A BS from Towson University and a MS from Johns Hopkins. Both degrees in Computer Science.

My limited experience is that a typical public HS curriculum is very structured and many don't have a personal finance class. To add it, something else (maybe required for funding, etc.) might have to go.

Sometimes people with unrelated degrees teach in college, but it's because they have some other "hook" - such as work experience in the field. You need a plan to establish credibility beyond "I read a bunch of stuff on the internet."

[DukeBlue]

Your background is suitable for teaching computer science at certain colleges, or computer science and possibly math at some high schools that would allow you to pursue alternative certification. I’m afraid you don’t have the academic credentials for teaching personal finance at the college level.

I’ve been a professor of computer engineering and computer science for 30 years. My parents were high school math teachers and I have friends who teach high school. Teaching young people is a very tough job.

[mike@jb]

No teaching experience. A BS from Towson University and a MS from Johns Hopkins. Both degrees in Computer Science.

Some community colleges have continuing ed, non credit classes. In some cases, it is fairly easy to set up a class, and you only get paid by the number of registrants.

A Boglehead-centric continuing Ed class would probably generate interest.
High school and college students aren’t thinking about investing for the future.

[arcticpineapplecorp.]

Any Bogleheads teach personal finance in a HS or a community college? Now retired, something I would like to do.

You should look to see if their is a Junior Achievement program in your area that you can volunteer with.

https://jausa.ja.org/about/index

I thought Junior Achievement sounded familiar. They have the Biztown program I heard on Planet Money: Summer Camp Capitalism which was one of my favorite episodes, next to the secret document that transformed China

[GerryL]

For the first 5 years of my retirement -- up until Covid -- I volunteered with a nonprofit called Financial Beginnings. I went to high school classrooms and did presentations on personal finance topics, like Credit, Budgeting, Investing. FB started in Oregon, but they have been spreading out. The presentation is produced by FB. We could modify it as long as we got out the key messages. I enjoyed doing the Investing module, which I modified to emphasize Boglehead values.

EDIT to add: My adult nephew has asked me to present the Investing module to coworkers as they were introduced to their company retirement plan. I've done that twice. He is starting a new job, and I wonder if he will ask me again.

[A440]

I taught an elective to 7th grade students and called it "Millionaires in the Making". The curriculum was based on SIMFA.org/foundation and the Stock Market Game. I inserted more than a few Boglehead principles in the class.

[dwickenh]

Maybe you can start a local finance club, unless you want to pursue the long road to teaching credentials. Accreditors have standards. A club would have more freedom and flexibility. Managing HS and college students is no joke.

This ^^^^^^^

[Stinky]

Maybe you can start a local finance club…..

Or a local Bogleheads chapter….

[Bobby206]

Another thought would be teaching kids about personal finance through Junior Achievement. The kids could really use the help!

[snackdog]

Unless they are asking for help, the vast majority of people and students are simply not interested in personal finance. I know it sounds crazy, but that is my experience.

[KneePartsPro]

Funny you should mention this. Just last week I came across a nonprofit organization that advocates for basic financial literacy for children of pretty much all ages. I believe the focus is mostly on debt, budget and saving. They provide the curriculum and schedule the “class” You donate your time, passion and communication skills. I believe this was the organization:
https://www.financialbeginnings.org/

[MBB_Boy]

Yup, picked up an adjunct gig at a local college. Was a good time. 18 students and paid $2K for an 8 week term

[Tdubs]

Funny you should mention this. Just last week I came across a nonprofit organization that advocates for basic financial literacy for children of pretty much all ages. I believe the focus is mostly on debt, budget and saving. They provide the curriculum and schedule the “class” You donate your time, passion and communication skills. I believe this was the organization:
https://www.financialbeginnings.org/

In reading this thread, I too was thinking there was an organization that did what this one does, but I vaguely recall it had a different name. Maybe there's more than one outfit like this?

[GerryL]

Funny you should mention this. Just last week I came across a nonprofit organization that advocates for basic financial literacy for children of pretty much all ages. I believe the focus is mostly on debt, budget and saving. They provide the curriculum and schedule the “class” You donate your time, passion and communication skills. I believe this was the organization:
https://www.financialbeginnings.org/

In reading this thread, I too was thinking there was an organization that did what this one does, but I vaguely recall it had a different name. Maybe there's more than one outfit like this?

Yes. This is the organization that I volunteered with. Mentioned further up the thread. Before I started, I checked to make sure that the content would not be non-commercial. Many of the volunteers come from the financial services industry, and they have corporate sponsorships, but the content is commercial-free. Oh, and BTW, Bill Bernstein is a supporter. I was on a project team to revise the investing content with him during Covid.

[KneePartsPro]

Funny you should mention this. Just last week I came across a nonprofit organization that advocates for basic financial literacy for children of pretty much all ages. I believe the focus is mostly on debt, budget and saving. They provide the curriculum and schedule the “class” You donate your time, passion and communication skills. I believe this was the organization:
https://www.financialbeginnings.org/

In reading this thread, I too was thinking there was an organization that did what this one does, but I vaguely recall it had a different name. Maybe there's more than one outfit like this?

I’m came across several. This one looked the most appealing to me based upon their curriculum.

[KneePartsPro]

In reading this thread, I too was thinking there was an organization that did what this one does, but I vaguely recall it had a different name. Maybe there's more than one outfit like this?

Yes. This is the organization that I volunteered with. Mentioned further up the thread. Before I started, I checked to make sure that the content would not be non-commercial. Many of the volunteers come from the financial services industry, and they have corporate sponsorships, but the content is commercial-free. Oh, and BTW, Bill Bernstein is a supporter. I was on a project team to revise the investing content with him during Covid.

Do you mind sharing what the general demographic characteristics were of the students you taught and how well the information you presented was received?

[EvanInvests]

Some community colleges have continuing ed, non credit classes. In some cases, it is fairly easy to set up a class, and you only get paid by the number of registrants.

A Boglehead-centric continuing Ed class would probably generate interest.
High school and college students aren’t thinking about investing for the future.

I guess I was the odd one out then haha. I’m 21 right now and started learning about investing/personal finance around age 12.

[Tdubs]

In reading this thread, I too was thinking there was an organization that did what this one does, but I vaguely recall it had a different name. Maybe there's more than one outfit like this?

I’m came across several. This one looked the most appealing to me based upon their curriculum.

Seems isolated mostly to the Pacific Northwest.

[Coffeeinthemorning]

You can also check out volunteer groups in your area, there are such organizations which go into schools and other areas to teach personal finance. It's not college classes or anything and often one off but sometimes a stretch of sessions. It would be great to share your knowledge and the good thing is its already structured and the relationships with the schools, etc are set up. The sessions are already structured for the most part so you use the established material but can certainly suggest additional points and topics etc. Google financial literacy volunteer and things will pop up. In NY there is a Volunteer NY site where people and organizations post volunteer opportunities, its very wide ranging but will include financial literacy opportunities, if you are elsewhere your state or areas may have something silimilar.

[CaptainT]

My local library and likely yours has fiscal literacy classes and tax help. Things like helping folks write a budget or figure out retirement savings . I am not sure of the details but as they are free they might need teachers or helpers and be a good way for you to decide if this is an interesting project to pursue

[GerryL]

Yes. This is the organization that I volunteered with. Mentioned further up the thread. Before I started, I checked to make sure that the content would not be non-commercial. Many of the volunteers come from the financial services industry, and they have corporate sponsorships, but the content is commercial-free. Oh, and BTW, Bill Bernstein is a supporter. I was on a project team to revise the investing content with him during Covid.

Do you mind sharing what the general demographic characteristics were of the students you taught and how well the information you presented was received?

Since they cover the tri-county area, and beyond, the demographics are all over the map. In the more well-to-do school districts, the classes had more kids who showed an active interest. This is especially true when the class is an elective rather than something like a social studies class. The support from the teachers varies, too. My favorite classroom was with a particular teacher who works to keep the kids engaged. At the other end are teachers who use the presentation as an opportunity to focus on their own work and don't help control the classroom -- when that is just the type of classroom that most needs it. The worst was an alternative school for troubled kids where the teacher wanted me to change my whole presentation on the fly. I didn't and declined further assignments at that school.

One of my best experiences was at an economically average school where I was scheduled to do two presentations in two different weeks. The class was intimidating because only a couple of students engaged. The rest just sat there with dead eyes. When I returned for the second module, the teacher sent a student to escort me to the classroom. I asked my guide if she had been at the previous session. In a totally emotionless voice she said, "Yes. It was one of the best presentations I've had in high school. I've opened a Roth IRA." !!! And she sat dead eyed through the second presentation. Sometimes you just can't know if you are getting through.

[KneePartsPro]

Do you mind sharing what the general demographic characteristics were of the students you taught and how well the information you presented was received?

Since they cover the tri-county area, and beyond, the demographics are all over the map. In the more well-to-do school districts, the classes had more kids who showed an active interest. This is especially true when the class is an elective rather than something like a social studies class. The support from the teachers varies, too. My favorite classroom was with a particular teacher who works to keep the kids engaged. At the other end are teachers who use the presentation as an opportunity to focus on their own work and don't help control the classroom -- when that is just the type of classroom that most needs it. The worst was an alternative school for troubled kids where the teacher wanted me to change my whole presentation on the fly. I didn't and declined further assignments at that school.

One of my best experiences was at an economically average school where I was scheduled to do two presentations in two different weeks. The class was intimidating because only a couple of students engaged. The rest just sat there with dead eyes. When I returned for the second module, the teacher sent a student to escort me to the classroom. I asked my guide if she had been at the previous session. In a totally emotionless voice she said, "Yes. It was one of the best presentations I've had in high school. I've opened a Roth IRA." !!! And she sat dead eyed through the second presentation. Sometimes you just can't know if you are getting through.

Thank you for taking time to reply. I had been curious about student engagement and wondered if individuals were attending out of their own genuine interest in the topic vs fulfilling some sort of requirement. It does seem remarkable that you were able to get the message through with even one teenager on the topic of personal finance. Obviously the compounding effect of that single impact has the potential to be incredibly significant over their lifetime.

Side note. Your information seems to parallel nearly every volunteering experience I've ever had. I find them to be a little frustrating, very inefficient, and generally uncomfortable. It often takes intentionally reminding myself that I'm not there for my gratification but rather to happily sacrifice for even the potential benefit of others to keep a positive outlook when results aren't clear.

[Valuethinker]

One of my best experiences was at an economically average school where I was scheduled to do two presentations in two different weeks. The class was intimidating because only a couple of students engaged. The rest just sat there with dead eyes. When I returned for the second module, the teacher sent a student to escort me to the classroom. I asked my guide if she had been at the previous session. In a totally emotionless voice she said, "Yes. It was one of the best presentations I've had in high school. I've opened a Roth IRA." !!! And she sat dead eyed through the second presentation. Sometimes you just can't know if you are getting through.

Here's my guess. The group dynamic was that it was not "cool" to be engaged.

This can be much more coercive than it sounds. Life is not a Hollywood comedy about high school. Anyone "engaged" or enthusiastic (or just on the neuro-diverse spectrum) can be the target of brutal hazing and humiliation - physical and psychological - in any number of ways. Maybe that's why "Carrie" is such a terrifying movie.

Group norms are brutally enforced in high school. Think the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

So what you got was the survivor instinct. Keep your head down, look detached, say nothing.

There are some generational issues (around the distractions of phones, primarily) but that's my take on what you saw there.

[angelescrest]

One of my best experiences was at an economically average school where I was scheduled to do two presentations in two different weeks. The class was intimidating because only a couple of students engaged. The rest just sat there with dead eyes. When I returned for the second module, the teacher sent a student to escort me to the classroom. I asked my guide if she had been at the previous session. In a totally emotionless voice she said, "Yes. It was one of the best presentations I've had in high school. I've opened a Roth IRA." !!! And she sat dead eyed through the second presentation. Sometimes you just can't know if you are getting through.

Here's my guess. The group dynamic was that it was not "cool" to be engaged.

This can be much more coercive than it sounds. Life is not a Hollywood comedy about high school. Anyone "engaged" or enthusiastic (or just on the neuro-diverse spectrum) can be the target of brutal hazing and humiliation - physical and psychological - in any number of ways. Maybe that's why "Carrie" is such a terrifying movie.

Group norms are brutally enforced in high school. Think the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

So what you got was the survivor instinct. Keep your head down, look detached, say nothing.

There are some generational issues (around the distractions of phones, primarily) but that's my take on what you saw there.

This is all too true, unfortunately, even post-HS. I was part of the "cool" kids and also a "jock" but kept quiet about being a 4.0 student until my classmate with whom I was forced to share a school mailbox with "outed" me as a top student after he was harassed about being a 4.0 student as well. The bullying never stopped after that. It wasn't a big deal for me, but for many in HS, it would be.

You only know how much people are learning by doing a proper assessment. Never assume. For those of you teaching personal finance to students or peers, it's a noble work. Keep it going.